I'm having problems finding information on a flat 5 pin connector for my truck.

I recently purchased a 99' F150 which has the factory towing package with the flat 4 pin connector on the back. Unfortunately my trailer has a 5 pin flat connection for the electric brakes (it's a Malibu boat and weighs about 3k lbs).

The question is... Where will I find a 5 pin wiring harness/adapter. And will I need a brake controller? I've talked to the dealer and all they have for me is a round 7 pin plug which doesn't do me any good.

Thanks.

 

Since the plug you have seems to be hard to find a connector, wouldn't it be better to convert to something more mainstream now? How hard will it be to find a connector in the middle of nowhere? Convert to a seven pin round(trailer & truck), only connect the pins you need.
You will need a brake controller for electric brakes.

 

If you have pulled the boat and not had the brakes hooked up before you can just plug the flat four into the flat five and all of your lights will work. I would advise you to change both ends and install a brake controller in your truck, this will make everything stop faster and easier.

Toyman

 

Thanks for your comments.

I did find this adapter.
http://www.etrailer.com/Merchant2/me...ategory_Code=A

I needed to get something going because I'm driving up to pickup the boat in a week or so. Once I get it I will definitely look into converting things over to a more standard plug and getting the brake controller.

 

That adapter will work perfectly for your application . All you need now is a brake controller.

Toyman

 

If I were to get lazy and not replace it with a 7 pin round, would a brake controller hook up directly to the 5th wire on the flat 5 pin plug and work properly? They mention on the website to connect (the 5th wire) to the reverse light wire...??

Thanks again.

 

Don't be lazy! We'll help you through it. It's really not that big of a deal to install one.

 

I would ut the 7 in connector on both ends, but it will work.

Toyman

 

I have a Moomba Outback ski boat with a Boat Mate trailer that uses the 5 pin connector for the brakes.

Keep in mind that this 5th wire is to RELEASE the brakes while you are backing up. It does not cause the brakes to operate. The brake actuator is controlled by hydraulics and does not require an electronic signal. When braking, the actuator moves forward and "senses" what's going on.


I created a wiring harness that goes from the trailer and plugs into the 4 pin connector that came with my 2004 Ranger. It is five pin on trailer end and 4 pin on truck end. Just match wire color to wire color for the four wires.

I then ran the 5th wire, the blue wire , (12v for brakes) to the reverse light and tapped into the +12v lead feeding the reverse bulb. When the truck is put into reverse, the trailer brakes get the signal.

I can remove the 5-pin harness anytime I need to plug in a trailer using the standard 4-pin.

I bought the 5-pin connector at Home Depot.

It is quite simple and took me about 10 minutes to create the harness and tap into the reverse light. No soldering - use crimp on connectors.

 

That sounds like the exact setup my boat trailer will need. I plan on getting that hooked up shortly. The boat will be arriving here next Sunday (23rd)!!

It's amazing how much trouble I had at the local boat/marine shops trying to look for the 5 wire adapter and anyone who knew anything about trailer wiring. (In the end I'm happy I came to this forum).

I do like the idea of having a brake controller in the cab, is there any reason NOT to install a brake controller?

 

Moonblink, generally if your trailer has Surge Brakes, you cannot use a brake controller. If it has electric brakes, then you need a brake controller.

Surge brakes are hydraulic drum brakes at the trailer wheels similar to what is on the rear axle of most pickup trucks. They are actuated by a hydraulic master cylinder that is on the trailer tongue. The master cylinder is actuated by a collapsible linkage in the trailer tongue that compresses when the towing vehicle's brakes are applied and the truck starts slowing down. This is a stand-alone system and the only connection between the trailer brake system and the towing vehicle is the hitch ball. You find this braking system on boat trailer as well as U-Haul and other rental trailers. It typically requires no battery or electrical power from the towing vehicle.

The wiring that Ed G just explained is apparently a circuit that defeats the surge brakes so you can back the trailer without the surge brakes going off and hindering your backing (especially uphill). This circuit something I have no experience with, but it sounds like a good idea to me, as I do have experience with surge brakes applying when trying to back up and making it very difficult to back, mostly uphill.

Electric brakes are applied at the wheels by an electromagnet and that that is controlled by an electric brake controller in the truck cab. Electric brake controllers operate in a few different ways, but can also be operated by hand by the driver if need be. Some electric brake controllers operate by sensing the slowing of the truck via an internal inertia sensor (Tekonsha Prodigy, among others) and others operate by using power from the brake light switch as a trigger and applying increasing pressure with increasing time (I think Kelsey Hayes were like this), and still others operate by sensing hydraulic pressure in the truck's brake lines (don't remember a brand here and not sure if they are still made or not), while others operate by sensing how far the truck's brake pedal is being depressed via variable resistor, like a fuel level gauge (Jordan Ultima). That is a simple explanation that is not entirely correct because some controllers are complicated and use more than one source of input, but that's the gist of it.

 

I was shocked when I saw the cable you ordered. It is exactly what I created - right down the quick disconnect for the reverse wire. I thought I had come up with something unique. You paid a good price too!

SOCALDESERTRIDER is right on in his explaination.

IF you have a Boat Mate trailer (and most Malibu boats do) with the brake actuator, You do not need a brake controller.

You do not have electric brakes. As I mentioned, the 12v signal is for releasing the brakes so you can go in reverse - which is quite handy when launching the boat.

I suggest you contact your boat dealer to be sure what kind of brakes you have. You may be paying for and installing something that is totally useless to you.

 

This is the brake actuator that is found on Boat Mate trailers.

http://www.ufpnet.com/PDF/Actuators.PDF